Argyranthemum plant named &#39;ohmadsaom&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘OHMADSAOM’ characterized by its crested/anemone inflorescence form with white-colored ray florets, cream-colored disc florets, freely branching character, dark green-colored foliage, and compact and upright growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant botanically known as Argyranthemum×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘OHMADSAOM’.

The new Argyranthemum originated in a controlled breeding program in Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia during 2001. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Argyranthemum cultivars that are freely branching, have a compact upright growth habit, are freely flowering, and have unique flower coloration.

The female parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary breeding line 01-19, not patented, which exhibits single flower type and very compact growth habit. The male parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary breeding line 01-199, not patented, which exhibits single type pink-colored flowers. Seed from the above stated cross-pollination was germinated and grown to maturity. One plant from within the progeny was discovered and selected by the inventor on Sep. 24, 2002 in a controlled environment at Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings taken since September 2002 at Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘OHMADSAOM’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Crested/anemone inflorescence form with white-colored ray         florets and white and cream colored disc florets.     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.     -   3. Freely branching character.     -   4. Compact and upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower form and from the male parent primarily in flower form and color.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to the cultivar OHAR01241, U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No. 10/741,695. However, in side-by-side comparisons, carried out at West Chicago Ill., plants of the new cultivar differ from plants ‘OHAR01241’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a crested/anemone flower form         whereas plants of ‘OHAR01241’ have a single flower form.     -   2. The ray florets of the new cultivar are white-colored whereas         the ray florets of ‘OHAR01241’ are cream-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which more accurately describe the colors of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 13 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of the new cultivar with one plant per pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 22, 2004 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following measurements and descriptions describe plants produced from cuttings of stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 13 weeks utilizing a soil-less growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65°-78° F. (18°-25° C.) during the day and approximately 50°-60° F. (10°-15° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 6,000 to 9,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum×hybrida cultivar OHMADSAOM. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—Proprietary Argyranthemum breeding line 01-199,             not patented.         -   Female parent.—Proprietary Argyranthemum breeding line             01-19, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks in a 10 cm pot.         -   Habit of growth.—Compact, freely branching. One or two             pinches improves basal branching.         -   Form.—Upright, mounded.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 20.5 cm from soil level to top             of plant plane. Width (area of spread): Approximately 24.8             cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 8. Strength:             Strong. Length from soil level to base of peduncle:             Approximately 10.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.9 mm.             Color: 143C. Texture: Glabrous. Internode length at middle             of branch: Approximately 4.2 mm.         -   Foliage.—Quantity of leaves per branch: Approximately 20.             Fragrance: Slight. Type: Simple. Fragrance: Slight.             Arrangement: Alternate. Aspect: At an acute angle to the             stem. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Narrow acute. Base: Attenuate,             decurent. Margin: Parted. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length:             Approximately 3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 3.2 cm.             Appearance: Glaucous. Color of mature foliage: Upper             surface: 137A with venation of N144C. Lower surface: 137B             with venation of N144C. Texture: Upper and lower surfaces             are glabrous. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 8 weeks after planting             of rooted cutting.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse             environment. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance/type.—Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape:             Round. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Disc and ray             florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance: None.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 7-10 days.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral branch.—Approximately 3.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 3.7 cm. Depth: Approximately 9             mm.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally it takes 3-6 days for buds             to progress from first color to fully open flowers. Shape:             Spherical. Diameter: Approximately 7 mm. Depth:             Approximately 5.7 mm. Color: 155A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20,             arranged in a single whorl. Aspect: Ribbed. Arrangement:             Imbricate. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Emarginate with three tips.             Base: Attenuate and fused to form tube. Margin: Entire.             Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 4.8 mm.             Color of young and mature ray florets: Upper and lower             surfaces: 155C. Texture: Glabrous. Tube texture: Glandular             puberscent. Tube color: N144A.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm. Depth: Approximately 6             mm.         -   Receptical.—Diameter at base: 4 mm. Depth: 6 mm. Color:             144C.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 184.             Shape: Tubular with five lobes each having an acute apex.             Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 7.1 mm. Diameter at             apex: Approximately 2.3 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             6 mm. Color of immature floret: 14A. Color of mature floret:             4D. Texture: Glabrous. Calyx: Shape: Tubular. Length:             Approximately 2.2 mm. Diameter: Approximately 0.1 mm. Color:             Colorless, translucent. Texture: Glabrous, papery.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 14.             Arrangement: Imbricate, arranged in several rows. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Length: Approximately 2.8 mm. Width: Approximately 1.9 mm.             Color of upper surface: Closest to 143A. Color of lower             surface: Closest to 143B. Texture: Glabrous, papery along             edges.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, pliable. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 5.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.9 mm.             Appearance: Glaucous. Color: 144A. Texture: Glabrous.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamens: 5 fused around style. Anther shape: Ovoid.             Anther length: 0.3 mm. Anther color: 17B. Amount of pollen:             Abundant. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and             disc florets. There is one pistil per floret. Pistil length:             4 mm. Stigma shape: Two parted. Stigma length: 1 mm. Stigma             color: 12B. Style length: 2.5 mm. Style color: 144C. Ovary             diameter: 0.5 mm. Ovary color: 144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Argyranthemum has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘OHMADSAOM’, substantially as herein shown and described. 